Maternal obesity is associated with a lipotoxic placental environment.

ABSTRACT: Maternal obesity is associated with placental lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation, where MAPK activity may play a central role. Accordingly, we have previously shown that placenta from obese women have increased activation of MAPK-JNK. Here, we performed RNA-sequencing on term placenta from twenty-two subjects who were dichotomized based on pre-pregnancy BMI into lean (BMI 19-24 kg/m(2); n = 12) and obese groups (BMI, 32-43 kg/m(2); n = 12). RNA-seq revealed 288 genes to be significantly different in placenta from obese women by ≥ 1.4-fold. GO analysis identified genes related to lipid metabolism, angiogenesis, hormone activity, and cytokine activity to be altered in placenta from obese women. Indicative of a lipotoxic environment, increased placental lipid and CIDEA protein w

SUBMITTER: Saben J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3978121 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature